I am in the process of setting up a system, i was going to buy a Hema 7 but i think i may be better off buying a Samsung tablet and going down that route, it will be a lot more versatile for downloads etc and i will be able to use it for other crap as well. Just a matter of putting whatever system you prefer on there or toggle between.

So the way i understand things you can buy the more expensive 3/4G capable tablet and the GPS function will work real time dependent on signal of course or if i get a wi-fi tablet the inbuilt GPS will still work but there could be some delay ?

Martin i see you use a USB style Globalsat GPS, look's to be a good option, throw it on the dash and forget about it.

yep the globalsat works every time with oziexplorer or Google earth. only issue is seeing the laptop screen during the day. i have tried all sought of anti glare film but non work, otherwise its easy to use and setup

Yes I run the Galaxy 10.1 with Oziexplorer Android. The tablet is such a versatile platform for everyday use. I can live map with google earth, check tenegraph and anything else you can do on a computer. It has a sim so I can make calls if I want to. Mostly it is running off my wifi at home but when travelling the sim will give you stand alone internet and phone coverage. Comes in handy when you need to google something to stop an argument!

I purchased the Pilbara 50K map set and the Gold & Ghosts set from the mapshop. This also comes with a 100K pilbara seemless map, pilbara geo maps which all can be live mapped with the internal GPS in the tablet. All these map sets are compatible with every version of Ozi and Hema aswell. I think it cost me about $100. Bloody well worth the money IMO! There is a little bit of messing around with the file types for Android (ozf4 I think) but the maps are easilly converted with software from the Ozi web site.

RAM Mount make a great setup which enables the tablet to be mounted on top of the dash and suction capped onto the windscreen. Just run a usb cord to a power source and you are away.

Prior to this set up I was running a laptop with external antenna and a small inverter power sorce. This version of Oziexplorer is by far the best but the lap top is a pain in the ass when you are banging around and like goldfinger said it is hard to see. You will need a touch screen to operate it easily from the driver seat also.

I also have a head unit running Ozi CE built into my cruiser but it is way too small and I am not a big fan of the CE version. I give it a go and I am a little dissapointed to be honest.

I have had a look at the Hema set up Cotty is running and it is great also. If you just want a no fuss mapping tool then these are pretty simple to use and you can get lots of maps onto them. My preference is for a larger screen so go for the biggest one you can afford IMO. Great setup all the same.

I use a Samsung 10" too. I had it secured (RAM mount) to the passenger seat floor bolts and tied to the Landcruiser's grip bar. I had to remove it as it was considered dangerous to passengers.Reefdog70 how does the windscreen suction mount handle corrugations? Do you lose much visibility due to glare and also of the road? Do you have a pic of the mount/model number?ta

Last edited by detectist on Mon 30 Mar 2015, 5:21 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : left out RAM mount)

Thanks very much. Looks pretty tough and secure enough to handle corrugations. I might get it. At worst is if not "the answer" for us (my wife is height challenged) it will join all my other "great buys" in the corner cupboard

PS - I like your 80's interior!

Last edited by detectist on Tue 07 Apr 2015, 5:33 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Just noticed the interior)

I'm almost set to buy the Hema 7. It will take all the Mines Dept maps and the RAM mount will go straight on to mine.I don't have the knowledge to get all those other devices working together. I think the Hema will be easier for me to navigate.

Made this frame out of 12mm S/S instrument tube. No drilling, picked up original bolt & screw holes.Use a USB GPS and run OziExplorer & Nat, Gold & Ghost Maps. .plt files keep us with in the boundaries of any lease we have permission to be on.As has already been mentioned glare can be a problem but we usually poke the nose of the vehicle in the shade if we want to study any detail.

When I did my GVM upgrade the engineer assessed my 4by for compliance to all ADRs. They advised me to remove the set up attached to the passenger side car seat floor bolt (only 1 leg so intruded only into the passenger side). They considered that if pulled over by police/rego people it may (not would but may) raise questions about occupant safety in case of accident.

As to my new GPS set up I bought the RAM mount gear from Hurtle. They seem to be the main supplier now. The previous RAM mounts were obtained from Southern Insights who still have some bits and pieces but looks like remnants rather than the full range that Hurtle has.

I bit the bullet on Friday and bought the Hema HN7. Saturday we left Wynnum heading north to Gympie using the new GPS to get there. Apart from it continually complaining that I was travelling at 110 in an 80 zone it worked ok. It has no idea of the maximum speed limit up the Bruce Hwy.

The only problem we had was the volume is not high enough for me to hear clearly sometimes. I read in the manual that there is an option to tune in into the radio and use the radio speakers to control the volume. Only problem there is that there is one serial number where that option is unavailable. I have that one

Models with 0914 in the serial number don't have the option of tuning into the radio.

Anyway that's not a problem any more because by Saturday morning it had died. It wouldn't start so I pressed the reset button. It got halfway started and no more so I hit it again. This time it came up to the "select a map screen" and Mrs M started to enter an address. The screen got a few lines running across it and it swiftly got worse until the whole screen was dashed lines. I reset it again. This time it blacked out for good.

Johnny Appleseed is happy to swap it for another but it meant we had to return from Gympie, a couple of hours north of Brisbane when we're meant to be heading the other way.

Hopefully he has one from another batch that will tune to my radio because I really need better sound.

That's certainly bad luck Moneybox.While I do not have a Hema they seem to have a good rep.I've bought a few things from Johnny Appleseed. I think they'll come to the party (perhaps at a little extra cost) to give you the model better suited to you.

Have had dealings with Johnny Appleseed when we were lucky enough to get on the "two for one" deal with the Garmin Rino's. They were more than helpful when I ran into a couple of configuration problems which were sorted over the phone.

I can't complain about Johnny Appleseed but I did get messed about a bit. I took the HN7 back to Jason at Annerley branch. He couldn't credit it because the EFTPOS just wouldn't do it. He sent me to Rocklea to get another of a different series, he said I got the last of that batch. I got there and they handed me one of the same. I said I either wanted my money back or a model without 0914 in the serial number. The guy there told me the FM transmitter had been discontinued on all models of GPS for legal reasons.

I managed to walk out with their display unit that had the different serial number. Tonight I worked through the options and tuned it to 100FM. The radio search immediately picked it up. Now I have sufficient volume to annoy the nearby traffic

We've had the Hema HN7 for long enough to get the feel of it but it's a lot harder to learn than the Garmin. The Garmin made some stupid decisions and was appropriately nicknamed Barbie. Mrs M has called this one Ken - the even dumber blonde, if that was even possible.

The maximum speed on most of Queensland roads is 100kph but Ken has them listed as 80. He continually tells us we're speeding. We continually tell him to shutup.

We take occasional diversions from the highway only to return by some bush track a little further on. He doesn't explain why!? He loves to take alternative routes, despite what we may think about it.

The 4WD mapping has less than half the tracks that are in the street maps. If you want to go bush where there are tracks it's much better to stick with the street maps. As far as I can tell there's no turn by turn instructions in 4WD mode.

It has an internal battery that prevents it dropping out as the Garmin did when you start up. You can detach it and use as a handheld for a short period as well which is handy for working at the computer.

It doesn't come with a hard-wire option like the Garmin. The only option to power it is through the cigarette lighter plug.

The list of loaded maps is amazing. I'm not too sure when we need to load which one but there are a lot of maps available.

The Garmin came a flange mount option to fit to the RAM mount. The Hema just comes with the suction mount so we bought a RAM accessory that seems to hold it securely with four spring loaded fingers that clamp the perimeter. It makes fitting and removing it easy.

Well i am up and running with the Samsung/Ozi, thanks to Reefdog for the recommendation's, got my RAM mount through Hurtlegear, Ozi loaded up ok, ended up getting their package deal with Hema, topo and the USB GPS receiver so i have a back up system with the laptop, i struggled with a few things on install because i am a dumb arse when it comes to IT stuff.

A little disappointed with smaller track detail on the maps i purchased, even my old 2005 Magellan 500 with discover aust topo has better detail so starting to look for other maps and also looking to convert Google Earth kml's at the moment.